Reversible cast control device for flyer winder

ABSTRACT

A device for use with a flyer coil winder for guiding wire to the coil being wound in either direction of rotation of the flyer and during reversal thereof, the device imparting a cast to the wire as it is wound in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil upon relaxation of tension thereon.

United States Patent 11 1 Vogel Jan. 1,1974

[ REVERSIBLE CAST CONTROL DEVICE FOR F LYER WINDER [75] Inventor: Ralph A. Vogel, Three Rivers, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Essex International, Inc., Fort Wayne, 1nd.

[221 Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 21 App]. No.: 291,228

[52] US. Cl. 140/92.2 [51] Int. Cl B2lf 3/00 [58] Field of Search 29/205, 596, 605; 140/921, 92.2; 242/705 B, 7.14, 82

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 709,179 9/1902 Schulz 242/705 B Moore 140/922 3,036,603 5/1962 Moore 140/921 3,065,771 11/1962 Possis et al. 140/921 3,156,268 11/1964 Moore 140/9212 3,191,638 6/1965 Shmoolevich et al. 140/921 3,371,876 3/1968 Wilcox 140/922 3,508,316 4/1970 Hill 140/92.1

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerE. M. Combs Attorney-Harold B. Hood et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for use with a flyer coil winder for guiding wire to the coil being wound in either direction of rotation of the flyer and during reversal thereof, the device imparting a cast to the wire as it is wound in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil upon relaxation of tension thereon.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN H 14 3.782.424

sum 3 ur g jig-T' REVERSIBLE CAST CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLYER WINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to coil winding apparatus of the flyer type, and more particularly to a reversible cast control device for use witha flyer winder.

2. Description of the Prior Art A flyer winder conventionally comprises a member relatively rotatable about a coil form and appropriately located pulleys or other wire guide means for feeding wire to the rotatable member and for guiding the wire to the coil form as the coil is being wound. The wire passing over such pulleys or guide means is subjected to a relatively sharp bend which, due to the memory characteristic of the wire, impart a cast to the wire as it is being wound on the coil form. In prior flyer type winders known to the present applicant, the cast imparted by the pulleys or wire guide means has been in such a direction that the coil tends to unwind upon severing of the wire forming the coil and consequent release of tension thereon. In the case of a typical dynamoelectric machine field coil comprising 40 turns of 18 guage wire wound by a conventional flyer winder of the type just described, it has been found that upon removal of the coil form with the coil thus being totally relaxed, the coil will unwind to the extent of about fourteen turns due to the cast imparted to the wire by the pulleys or wire guide means. This tendency for the coil to unwind is objectionable, particularly when the coil is to be transferred from the coil form to the blades of coil insertion apparatus.

Flyer winders have been proposed including wire guiding devices for imparting a cast to the wire in a direction to inhibit such unwinding of the coil however, to the best of the present applicants knowledge, such devices have not been reversible, i.e., suitable for use in applications where the direction of flyer rotation must be reversed, i.e., where the flyer winds certain coils in one direction and other coils in the opposite direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention, in its broader aspects, provides a reversible cast control device for use with coil winding apparatus which includes a member relatively rotatable about a coil form, the relative rotation being upon a first axis, and means for feeding wire to the member to be wound on coil form. The device of the invention comprises a first pulley rotatably mounted on the member on a second axis spaced outwardly from and normal to the first axis, and second and third pulleys respectively rotatably mounted on the member on second and third axes parallel with the first axis, spaced outwardly from the second axis on the side thereof remote from the first axis, and respectively on opposite sides of a plane including the first axis and the first pulley, the second and third pulleys being respectively closely spaced from opposite sides of the plane. The wire being wound passes partially around the first pulley on the side thereof facing the first axis, outwardly between the second and third pulleys, partially around the trailing one of the second and third pulleys with respect to the direction of relative rotation and on the side thereof remote from the first axis, and thence inwardly to the coil form thereby to wind the coil thereon in the direction of relative rotation. The last bend in the wire prior to winding on the coil form imparted by the respective one of the second and third pulleys is in a direction opposite the winding direction and thus the cast imparted thereby to the wire is in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the resulting coil upon relaxation thereof.

A wire crossover guide is provided mounted on the relatively rotatable member adjacent the second and third pulleys on the side thereof remote from the member. The guide has an outer surface including first portions which are respectively substantially flush with peripheral portions of the second and third pulleys in the regions thereof adjacent the points of tangency of the wire therewith as it departs toward the coil form, the outer surface also including an intermediate portion having a smooth, outward curvature extending between the first portions so that upon reversal of the direction of relative rotation, the wire is pulled off of the respective second and third pulley, crosses over the respective first outer surface portion, the intermediate portion and the other first portion, and then engages the other one of the second and third pulleys.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a reversible cast control device for use with coil winding apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reversible cast control device for use with a flyer winder.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view, partly in cross section and partly broken away, illustrating a flyer winder incorporating the reversible cast control device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the flyer winder of FIG. 1 as viewed generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the reversible cast control device of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the reversible cast control device of the invention as viewed generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a flyer winder is shown, generally indicated at 10, comprising operating arm 12 and counter-weight arms 14, 16 equally spaced around axis of rotation 18. Arms 12, 14 and 16 are formed by three plate members 20, 22, 24 respectively having inner ends 26, 28, 30 secured to block 32 by threaded fasteners 35, and having outer ends 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44. It will be observed that outer ends 34, 44 of plate members 26, 30 are parallel and form the outer end of arm 12, outer ends 36, 38 of plate member 26, 28 are parallel and form outer end of arm 14, and outer ends 40, 42 of plate members'28, 30 are parallel and form the outer end of arm 16. Block 32 is secured to flange 46 on drive shaft 48 by means of suitable threaded fasteners 50. Arms 12, 14, 16 are restrained against the effect of centrifugal force by blocks 52 connected by straps 54.

Shaft 48 has a central opening 56 therethrough through which wire 58 from an external source of supply (not shown) passes. Block 32 has grommet 60 and slot 62 therein for guiding and accommodating wire 58. Wire guide 64 is mounted on arm 12 between ends 34, 44 of plate member 26, 30 for guiding wire 58 to the cast control device of the invention, generally indicated Flyer is adapted to wind wire 58 on the coil form shown in dashed lines at 68 thereby to form dynamoelectric machine field coils. Flyer 10 may be rotated in opposite directions, as shown by arrows 70, 72, traversed axially, and stepped axially thereby to wind coils on steps 74, 76, 78 of coil form 68 by apparatus such as that illustrated and described in US. Pat. No. 3,575,2 l9 assigned to the assignee of the present application. The flyer assembly 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as thus far described, apart from east control device 66, is conventional and need not be further described.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 3 through 6 of the drawings, cast control device 66 comprises block 80 secured to outer ends 34, 44 of flyer arm 12 by threaded fasteners 82. Block 80 has slot 84 formed therein defining spaced arms 86. A V-grooved pulley 88 is rotatably mounted between arms 86 in slot 84 by means of stud 90, pulley 88 thus being rotatably mounted on axis 91 spaced outwardly from axis 18 and normal thereto, the groove of pulley 88 lying in plane 107 which includes axis 18. Pulley 88 is preferably rotatably mounted on stud 90 by antifriction bearing 92.

A pair of transverse slots 94, 96 are formed in opposite sides of block 80 extending downwardly from its upper surface 98. Two pulleys 102, 104 are provided respectively rotatably mounted on studs 103, 106 extending through mounting portion 108 of block 80 defined by slots 94, 96, pulleys 102, 104 thus being rotatably mounted on axes 105 spaced outwardly from axis 91 of pulley 88 and on opposite sides of plane 107 which passes through pulley 88 and axis 18, pulleys 102, 104 being closely spaced from opposite side of plane 107. Pulleys 102, 104 are preferably rotatably mounted on studs 103, 106 by antifriction bearings 109. Each of pulleys 102, 104 has a front cylindrical portion 110 joined to a larger diameter rear portion 112 by convexly curved radius 114.

Crossover guide member 1l6,is secured to portion 108 of block 80 by studs 103, 106, being spaced therefrom to accommodate rotation of pulleys 102, 104 by sleeve 118. Crossover member 116 has front and rear sides 120, 122 and outer surface 124, rear side 122 being closely adjacent front portion 110 of pulleys 102, 104. Outer surface 124 has portions 126, 128 which are respectively substantially flush with front portions 110 of pulleys 102, 104 in the regions thereof adjacent the point of tendency of wire 58 as it departs toward coil forms 68, as best seen in FIG. 3. Portions 126 are smoothly joined to front side 120 of crossover guide 116 by curved sections 130 (FIG. 5).

Outer surface 124 of crossover guide 116 has intermediate portion 132 which has a smooth, outward curvature extending between flush portions 126, 128, as best seen in FIG. 3. Front and rear sides 120, 122 of crossover guide 116 are joined by smoothly curved section 134 to form intermediate portion 132, as best seen in FIG. 4.

Wire 58 passes partially around pulley 88 on the side thereof facing axis of rotation 18, upwardly between pulleys 102, 104, partially around the trailing one of pulleys 102, 104 on the side thereof remote from axis 18 (pulley 102 is trailing when the direction of rotation is clockwise as shown by arrow 70, and pulley 104 is trailing when the direction of rotation is counterclockwise as shown by arrow 72), and thence to the coil form 68. The wire departing pulley 102 in the case of clockwise rotation is shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and the wire departing plane 104 in the case of counter-clockwise rotation is shown in dashed lines.

It will be seen that with clockwise rotation of flyer 10 and cast control device 66 in direction 70, wire 58 will be wound on coil form 68 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the same direction as FIG. 2). It will be seen that in the case of clockwise winding in direction 70, the last bend in wire 58 is caused by the wire passing over pulley 102 thus imparting a cast to the wire being wound on coil 136 in the direction shown by arrow 138. Thus, following winding of coil 136, when the wire 58 is severed as at 134, causing relaxation of the coil, the cast in direction 138 is in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil. In the case of counter-clockwise rotation in direction 72, the last bend in wire 58 is provided therein by pulley 104 which imparts a cast in the wire being wound in the direction opposite direction 138 thereby again to inhibit unwinding of the coil following seve'ring of the wire and relaxation of the coil.

Assume now that flyer 10 and cast control device 66 has been rotating in the clockwise direction as shown by arrow 70, that rotation of the flyer is stopped, and that the direction of rotation is reversed to the counterclockwise direction as shown by arrow 72. Upon reversal of flyer 10 and cast control device 66, wire 58 will be pulled off of cylindrical front portion of pulley 102, over flush outer surface portion 126 of crossover guide 116, over intermediate portion 132 as shown by dashed lines 58-1, 58-2, 58-3, 58-4 and 58-5 (FIGS. 3 and 6) and finally over flush outer surface portion 128 onto cylinderical portion 110 of pulley l04,as shown at 58-6.

It will now be seen that cast control device 66, by passing the wire over a respective pulley 102, 104 on the side thereof remote from the winding axis, imparts a cast to the wire being wound in the proper direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil following severing of the wire and-relaxation of the coil. It will further be seen that the wire is caused automatically to transfer from one pulley 102, 104 to the other upon reversal of the flyer by virtue of the configuration of outer surface 124 of crossover guide member 116, outer surface 124 having portions 132 which are respectively flush with cylindrical surface portions 110 of pulleys 102, 104 in the regions of tangency of wire 58 therewith as it leaves respective pulley, and having outwardly curved intermediate portion 132 which guides the wire during transfer from one pulley to the other.

While the specific apparatus illustrated and described incorporates a flyer 10 which rotates about stationary coil form 68, it will be understood that cell form 68 may be rotated to wind coils thereon with cast control device 66 being mounted on a stationary member.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. ln coil winding apparatus including a member relatively rotatable about a coil form, said relative rotation being about a first axis, and means for feeding wire to said member to be wound on said coil form: a device mounted on said member for guiding said wire to said coil form in either direction of relative rotation and during reversal thereof, and for imparting a cast to said wire in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil upon relaxation of tension thereon, said device comprising a first pulley rotatably mounted on said member on a second axis spaced outwardly from and normal to said first axis; second and third pulleys respectively rotatably mounted on said member on third and fourth axes parallel with said first axis, spaced outwardly from said second axis on the side thereof remote from said first axis, and respectively on opposite sides of a plane including said first axis and said first pulley, said second and third pulleys being respectively closely spaced from opposite sides of said plane; said wire passing partially around said first pulley on the side thereof facing said first axis, outwardly between said second and third pulleys, partially around the trailing one of said second and third pulleys with respect to the direction of relative rotation and on the side thereof remote from said first axis, and thence inwardly to said coil form thereby to wind a coil thereon in said direction of relative rotation, and to impart said cast; and a wire crossover guide mounted on said member adjacent said second and third pulleys on the side thereof remote from said memher, said guide having an outer surface including first portions which are respectively substantially flush with peripheral portions of said second and third pulleys in the regions thereof adjacent the points of tangency of said wire therewith as it departs toward said coil form,

said outer surface including an intermediate portion having a smooth, outward curvature extending between said first portions whereby upon reversal of the direction of relative rotation, said wire is pulled off of the respective second and third pulley, crosses over the respective first outer surface portion, said intermediate portion and the other first portion, and engages the other one of said second and third pulleys.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said second and third pulleys has a cylinderical front portion joined to a larger diameter rear portion by a convexly curved section, said rear portion facing said member, said crossover guide having a front side and a rear side adjacent said front portions of said second and third pulleys, said wire passing partially around said front portion of the respective second and third pulley, said first outer surface portions of said guide being respectively substantially flush with said front portions of second and third pulleys in said regions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first outer surface portions of said crossover guide are respectively smoothly joined to said front side thereof by a curved section, said front and back sides of said guide being smoothly joined by a curved section which forms said intermediate outer surface portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said crossover guide is secured to said member by fasteners which respectively rotatably support said second and third pulleys.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first pulley is rotatably mounted on a mounting member, said fasteners rotatably mounting said second and third pulleys on and securing said crossover guide to said mounting member, said mounting member being secured to said relatively rotatable member. 

1. In coil winding apparatus including a member relatively rotatable about a coil form, said relative rotation being about a first axis, and means for feeding wire to said member to be wound on said coil form: a device mounted on said member for guiding said wire to said coil form in either direction of relative rotation and during reversal thereof, and for imparting a cast to said wire in a direction to inhibit unwinding of the coil upon relaxation of tension thereon, said device comprising a first pulley rotatably mounted on said member on a second axis spaced outwardly from and normal to said first axis; second and third pulleys respectively rotatably mounted on said member on third and fourth axes parallel with said first axis, spaced outwardly from said second axis on the side thereof remote from said first axis, and respectively on opposite sides of a plane including said first axis and said first pulley, said second and third pulleys being respectively closely spaced from opposite sides of said plane; said wire passing partially around said first pulley on the side thereof facing said first axis, outwardly between said second and third pulleys, partially around the trailing one of said second and third pulleys with respect to the direction of relaTive rotation and on the side thereof remote from said first axis, and thence inwardly to said coil form thereby to wind a coil thereon in said direction of relative rotation, and to impart said cast; and a wire crossover guide mounted on said member adjacent said second and third pulleys on the side thereof remote from said member, said guide having an outer surface including first portions which are respectively substantially flush with peripheral portions of said second and third pulleys in the regions thereof adjacent the points of tangency of said wire therewith as it departs toward said coil form, said outer surface including an intermediate portion having a smooth, outward curvature extending between said first portions whereby upon reversal of the direction of relative rotation, said wire is pulled off of the respective second and third pulley, crosses over the respective first outer surface portion, said intermediate portion and the other first portion, and engages the other one of said second and third pulleys.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said second and third pulleys has a cylinderical front portion joined to a larger diameter rear portion by a convexly curved section, said rear portion facing said member, said crossover guide having a front side and a rear side adjacent said front portions of said second and third pulleys, said wire passing partially around said front portion of the respective second and third pulley, said first outer surface portions of said guide being respectively substantially flush with said front portions of second and third pulleys in said regions.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first outer surface portions of said crossover guide are respectively smoothly joined to said front side thereof by a curved section, said front and back sides of said guide being smoothly joined by a curved section which forms said intermediate outer surface portion.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said crossover guide is secured to said member by fasteners which respectively rotatably support said second and third pulleys.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first pulley is rotatably mounted on a mounting member, said fasteners rotatably mounting said second and third pulleys on and securing said crossover guide to said mounting member, said mounting member being secured to said relatively rotatable member. 